Pets allowed
Allowed
Elevation Gain
3,300.00 ft (1,005.84 m)
Trail type
There-and-back
Distance
8.40 mi (13.52 km)
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

April 2019: Winter storms in February 2019 have created obstructions to the Eula Ridge Trail starting from the Hardesty junction that may make it difficult or impossible to follow. Be advised.

The Eula Ridge Trail is one of the few trails in the area that gains elevation in a hurry. Most of the trails around Oakridge are heavily used by mountain bikers, which can pose challenges for hikers on popular routes. Eula Ridge's technical profile scares off all but the most hardy mountain bikers, so there is a good chance you will have the place to yourself.

A fire lookout stood atop Hardesty Mountain from 1920 to 1968. Today, tall trees obscure any hint of a view. There is no spectacular reward at the top, just a handful of concrete pillars and debris from the former lookout. Making it to the summit is a reward in and of itself.

As you walk along Eula Ridge, enjoy the damp stillness of the woods. The forest floor is covered in Oregon grape, several varieties of ferns, and bushy rhododendrons. Hike the ridge in late spring to enjoy the blooming rhododendrons as you huff and puff to the top. Early spring is accompanied by newts and songbirds, while summertime sees wildflowers blooming and warmer weather. Since the trailhead is located just off of Highway 58, this trail is accessible year round. Hikers with snowshoes or traction devices can reach the higher elevations even in the middle of winter. Each season brings a different flavor to this spectacular trail.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Congestion

Low

Parking Pass

Not Required

Pros

Solitude. Great conditioning hike.

Cons

Steep trail. No viewpoints.

Trailhead Elevation

960.00 ft (292.61 m)

Features

Old-growth forest
Wildflowers

Typically multi-day

No

Suitable for

Biking
Horseback

Location

Comments

Hiked up from the Eula trailhead and the path is clear and back in well maintained condition. As a female who generally hikes alone, I noted I had cell reception throughout the hike. On a Saturday morning with clear, sunny weather, I only came across two trail runners and a mountain biker all coming from the Hardesty Junction.
04/28/2019
Hiked down Eula starting from the Hardesty junction on April 27, 2019. The trail is still absolutely destroyed from the winter storm in Feb 2019. There are many large downed trees, huge snags and tons (literally) of storm debris across the trail. We spent hours scrambling through all of that and trying to find the path, which is heavily obscured in multiple places. There is no signage at the Hardesty or Eula Ridge trailheads indicating this trail is still not cleared. This trail should not be open to the public until significant work is done to clear it.
05/11/2017
Thank you Beejay, we've updated the distance according to the Contributor's GPS track, and the map will be updated soon.
Have updates, photos, alerts, or just want to leave a comment?
Sign In and share them.